# Work At Home AD SDMB is Scam **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 11, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681 "2011-07-11T22:57:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/1 "2011-07-11T22:57:13Z")
[http://channel7jobsreport.com/FINANCE/Internet-Income/?w3source=165&clickid=167903510-1310424251598-0](http://channel7jobsreport.com/FINANCE/Internet-Income/?w3source=165&clickid=167903510-1310424251598-0) They also have this web site. They go by different names, setting up phony sites that look like legitimate news organization sites. [http://internet-cash-site.com/02/?AID=5623&SID=175644&ip=64.91.21.72&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fcnbcnews10.com%2FFinance%2Fread.php%3Farticle%3D028843&ua=Mozilla%2F4.0+(compatible%3B+MSIE+8.0%3B+Windows+NT+5.1%3B+Trident%2F4.0%3B+.NET+CLR+1.1.4322%3B+.NET+CLR+2.0.50727%3B+.NET+CLR+3.0.4506.2152%3B+.NET+CLR+3.5.30729%3B+.NET4.0C%3B+msn+OptimizedIE8%3BENUS)#](http://internet-cash-site.com/02/?AID=5623&SID=175644&ip=64.91.21.72&ref=http%3a%2f%2fcnbcnews10.com%2fFinance%2fread.php%3farticle%3d028843&ua=Mozilla%2f4.0+(compatible%3b+MSIE+8.0%3b+Windows+NT+5.1%3b+Trident%2f4.0%3b+.NET+CLR+1.1.4322%3b+.NET+CLR+2.0.50727%3b+.NET+CLR+3.0.4506.2152%3b+.NET+CLR+3.5.30729%3b+.NET4.0C%3b+msn+OptimizedIE8%3bENUS)#) [http://reviewopedia.com/workathome/home-income-profit-system-review-is-it-a-scam/](http://reviewopedia.com/workathome/home-income-profit-system-review-is-it-a-scam/) ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/2 "2011-07-11T22:59:55Z")
Reported. **lilbug** , this information is better suited to an e-mail to an admin. ---
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/3 "2011-07-11T23:53:34Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Reported. > > **lilbug** , this information is better suited to an e-mail to an admin. Oops! I saw another thread here reporting another ad was scam, thought it was okay. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/4 "2011-07-12T00:17:04Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Reported. > > **lilbug** , this information is better suited to an e-mail to an admin. I don’t believe that is true. The point is to let everyone know it’s a scam. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/5 "2011-07-12T00:37:18Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/6 "2011-07-12T00:57:18Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > Reported. > > **lilbug** , this information is better suited to an e-mail to an admin. Okay, I didn’t see your name on the list of moderators or Admin, so is this just your opinion? Admin/Mods - is there an ‘official’ manner of handling this? I checked the FAQ, unless I overlooked it, I didn’t see anything pertaining this kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/7 "2011-07-12T01:51:20Z")
It seems to me that **lilbug** is doing a useful service by making this information public, especially as these ads appear in lots of places apart from the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/8 "2011-07-12T02:47:09Z")
You’re fine, lilbug. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/9 "2011-07-12T14:10:15Z")
An email might be better to ensure it gets an admin’s attention soonest. That may be what Randy was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/10 "2011-07-12T16:06:05Z")
Wait, there’s an ad on the SDMB that will harm the members of the site in some way?! Color me shocked\*!!!\* ---
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/11 "2011-07-12T16:34:51Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > An email might be better to ensure it gets an admin’s attention soonest. That may be what Randy was thinking. No. He came into a forum where one, especially a newcomer such as myself, would expect a reply from a mod or Admin, and the manner in which he stated his post gave me the impression that he was a mod/Admin, as evidenced by my reply. It wasn’t until the second poster came in that I questioned his authority and found any authority he has is clearly only in his own mind. There’s another topic here reporting another scam ad and no one went in there and admonished that OP for the manner he reported it. As to the response time, this was clearly responded to by Admin in a very timely manner. It appears to me that this is the kind of thing this forum is for so Admin/mods do not have to deal with innumerable e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/12 "2011-07-12T16:36:36Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Wait, there’s an ad on the SDMB that will harm the members of the site in some way?! Color me shocked\*!!!\* These ads are not only appearing here, they’re all over the net in some form or fashion, and impact a far greater number of folks than just the members here. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/13 "2011-07-12T17:04:57Z")
> [@lilbug](#): > > No. He came into a forum where one, especially a newcomer such as myself, would expect a reply from a mod or Admin, and the manner in which he stated his post gave me the impression that he was a mod/Admin, as evidenced by my reply. It’s very common for regular posters here to offer helpful information if they get to a thread before a mod/admin does. People who \*are \*site staff are very clearly labeled. Just look under the person’s name. If all it says is “Guest,” “Member,” “Charter Member,” or a custom title, that person is not a member of the site staff. “SDSAB” is the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board; they contribute to articles but aren’t responsible for running the site. “Moderator” or “Admininstrator” means the person helps run the site. The one exception is **Ed Zotti** , whose title merely says “Gormless Wienie”; but he’s the guy in charge. > [@lilbug](#): > > These ads are not only appearing here, they’re all over the net in some form or fashion, and impact a far greater number of folks than just the members here. You’re new here, so you’ve missed out on all of the fun previous discussions on the subject. Let’s just say that some of us are very frustrated at the PTB for jamming their fingers in their ears while loudly shouting that shitty, exploitative, malware-filled, low-rent ads are the only conceivable way to pay the bills. ---
**Author:** ![lilbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b487fb/32.png) [@lilbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbug)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/14 "2011-07-12T17:26:20Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > It’s very common for regular posters here to offer helpful information if they get to a thread before a mod/admin does. People who \*are \*site staff are very clearly labeled. Just look under the person’s name. If all it says is “Guest,” “Member,” “Charter Member,” or a custom title, that person is not a member of the site staff. “SDSAB” is the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board; they contribute to articles but aren’t responsible for running the site. “Moderator” or “Admininstrator” means the person helps run the site. The one exception is **Ed Zotti** , whose title merely says “Gormless Wienie”; but he’s the guy in charge. I appreciate the explanation as to the title of folks and where they are displayed. > [@](#): > > You’re new here, so you’ve missed out on all of the fun previous discussions on the subject. Let’s just say that some of us are very frustrated at the PTB for jamming their fingers in their ears while loudly shouting that shitty, exploitative, malware-filled, low-rent ads are the only conceivable way to pay the bills. Well, I hope this isn’t true as it detracts from the integrity of the site. IMO. Also, just from my own perspective, promotion of these scum bag operations is only aiding them in ripping off unsuspecting folks. Especially now, folks are desperate, grasping at anything to meet their obligations and are prime targets for this type of scam. It’s dispicable to take advantage of folks who are already down, and exposing these scams for what they are was my only intent here. Really, this is too much fuss over the method of message delivery, rather than the message. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/15 "2011-07-12T18:19:15Z")
I don’t think anyone’s mad at you for posting a thread; simply offering alternatives where you can potentially reach someone who can do something about it faster. Personally, I probably would have hit up both routes. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/16 "2011-07-12T19:58:06Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > It’s very common for regular posters here to offer helpful information if they get to a thread before a mod/admin does. People who \*are \*site staff are very clearly labeled. Just look under the person’s name. If all it says is “Guest,” “Member,” “Charter Member,” or a custom title, that person is not a member of the site staff. “SDSAB” is the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board; they contribute to articles but aren’t responsible for running the site. “Moderator” or “Admininstrator” means the person helps run the site. The one exception is **Ed Zotti** , whose title merely says “Gormless Wienie”; but he’s the guy in charge. Little Ed isn’t the only one with a title that doesn’t reflect his true power. For instance I retain the abilities of an admin, though I rarely use them. If I see an active spammer in the middle of the night, I’ll usually drop the banhammer, because I’m likely to be the only one who’s awake and on the boards. I can’t remember if xash still has admin under his name, but I’m almost certain that he’s still got his powers. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/17 "2011-07-12T20:04:28Z")
Yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of “active people who you’d want to seek out if there’s a problem.” Can’t keep track of those of you who’ve mostly stepped down but retain access, since I generally assume that if you don’t have the title, you don’t have the time for people to constantly bug you about things. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/18 "2011-07-12T20:40:29Z")
Oh, I’ll do stuff for people, like merge names and such, if I happen to be around. The thing is, I’m not always around. For that matter, even the people with the official titles aren’t always around, so in all cases, it’s best to send a request to at least two and preferably more mods/admins, with the addresses all in the To: line, so that we know who else is copied on it. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/19 "2011-07-12T20:41:20Z")
If there is a lack of quality control and/or truth in advertising it would be by Google Ads and whoever else contracts to show ads on the web site. TPTB could chase down each and every suspect advertising claim on their own, write Google and tell them they don’t want that ad shown anymore and that it is promoting false claims, etc. but ultimately it comes down to the ad companies themselves having apparently very low standards. My $ .02 is that it would be better to sell the ad space directly than use an ad service if the work involved in quality control of the ads even begins to approach the work that would be involved in selling and managing the ads in house. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681/20 "2011-07-12T21:00:01Z")
They’ve been told this. They’ve been told that they could be put in touch with larger sites that support themselves very well without using this kind of terrible, exploitative advertising. But they refuse to even consider the possibility, insisting that sites that do this “must” be tiny boards run out of someone’s basement, so it would never work for the SDMB. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home-ad-sdmb-is-scam/588681.md?page=2)